In spite of small skirmishes and firing incidents polling ended by and large in peaceful manner in Rawalpindi and threats of suicide bombing and violence affected the overall turn out of the 9th general elections held on Monday, which remained low.
Polling started at 8 am in the morning but remained very slow till 1 pm in almost all the areas of Rawalpindi, as people were fearing of disruptive activities, but polling gained momentum after 3 pm and people came out in large number to cast their votes. Female voters turn out was low as compared to previous elections. The roads remained vacant almost all the day while public transport remained totally off the road.
The mismanagement on the part of Election Commission deprived a good number of people from exercising the adult-franchise, as wrong entries of names or CNIC numbers in electoral rolls became hurdle. Many people quarrelled with election officials as they were denied to poll vote. Strange situation arose in some polling stations when people not found their names in electoral rolls where they were polling their votes for decades.
President Pervez Musharraf and his family polled their votes in Bhandara Public School Gulistan Jauhar near Muree Brewery amid heavy security blanket, while former minister Sheikh Rasheed and candidate from NA-55-56 cast his vote in Ziaul Islam High School Raja Bazar, Raja Basharat former provincial minister and candidate from NA-54 and PP-6 polled his vote in Dhamial his hometown.
Chief Election Commission (CEC) former Justice Qazi Farooq visited some polling stations in Rawalpindi to see the pace and arrangements of the elections. One lady Afshan received bullet injury when she caught in cross fire between activists of two rival political parties in Chaklala Scheme III of NA-54. The supporters of former Federal Minister Sarwar Khan and Independent candidate Kamran Aslam exchanged fire in Chontra in NA-53, while supporters of Raja Nasir, PML-Q candidate from NA-52 snatched ballot papers from voters of opposition parties.
Strict security arrangements were made for the elections and to meet any untoward incident, while huge contingents of Rangers and Police were deployed while Pakistan Army was kept in reserve to meet any situation. At sunset when results started coming from different polling stations, the joyous workers of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party came out in streets and resorted firing and fire-crackers to express their joy for attaining heavy lead in Rawalpindi seats. Big rallies of cars and motorcycles by PML-N and PPP have started moving in roads and streets of Rawalpindi.
Police and other law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area leading towards Lal Haveli, political headquarter of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, former minister and PML-Q candidate for NA-55 and 56. No vehicles, bikes or people were allowed to move towards this area.